Emergency Supply Kit

A disaster Supply kit is a collection of basic items for your household during and after an emergency situation.

Try to assemble the kit well in advance of an emergency. This will give you time to review the items and plan for what you and your family will really need. Building the kit early also helps avoid problems if trying to shop for items that may be in demand in the immediate period just before or just after an event has occurred.

Click through the tabs below to learn about what items you will need for your kit. Remember, plan for each member of your family and plan for a minimum of 3 days.

Click on the Emergency Supply Checklist to open a printable version to help you build your kit.

Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:

Prescription medications and glasses

Infant formula and diapers

Pet food and extra water for your pet

Cash or traveler's checks and change

Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - EFFAK (PDF - 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.

Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site. (See Publications)

Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.

Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.

Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

In any emergency a family member or you yourself may suffer an injury. If you have these basic first aid supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class.

Two pairs of Latex or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to Latex

Sterile dressings to stop bleeding

Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes

Antibiotic ointment

Burn ointment

Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes

Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant

Thermometer

Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.

Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies

Remember the unique needs of your family members, including growing children, elderly or family members with special medical or functional needs when making your emergency supply kit and family emergency plan.

For Baby:

Formula

Diapers

Bottles

Powdered milk

Medications

Moist towelettes

Diaper rash ointment

For more information about the care and feeding of infants and young children during an emergency, visit the California Dept. of Public Health website.

For Adults:

Denture needs

Contact lenses and supplies

Extra eye glasses

Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs.

If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:

Jacket or coat

Long pants

Long sleeve shirt

Maintaining Your Kit

Now that you have built you kit you want to make sure it stays ready and in good condition. Here are a few tips:

Store in a cool, dry place

Store in a tightly closed plastic or metal container

Check every six months

Remove canned food replace with new

Keep the boxes a manageable size, and easy to carry.

Learn more about Emergency Kit Planning, Food Preparedness, Water Needs, and Water Safety at Ready.gov: Build a Kit

Car Safety

You should also plan for safety should an emergency occur while you are driving. Vehicle maintenance and safety are key to survival during and after an event. Remember, only drive during an emergency situation if you have to. Here are some additional tips:

Keep your gas tank full

Do not drive through a flooded area - Six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control and possibly stall. A foot of water will float many cars.

Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded - Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.

If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

Check Antifreeze levels

Check Battery and ignition system

Check Brakes

Check Exhaust system

Check Fuel and air filters

Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly

Lights and flashing hazard lights

Oil - check for level and weight.

Ensure Thermostatworks properly

Windshield wiper equipment

Make an Emergency Kit for you Car

Keep these items in a kit for you car should become stranded:

Jumper cables: might want to include flares or reflective triangle

Flashlights: with extra batteries

First Aid Kit

Food: non-perishable food such as canned food, and protein rich foods like nuts and energy bars

Manual can opener

Water: at least 1 gallon of water per person a day for at least 3 days